UFC 118's Gabe Ruediger still dealing with reality-show infamy

Gabe Ruediger (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has heard every joke about his battle with a scale. By now he laughs it off or tries to ignore it. He learned a lesson about weight, and unfortunately, it happened on national TV.

On the other hand, he feels it might actually give him an advantage heading into Saturday’s UFC 118 fight with Joe Lauzon (18-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

Because like all the fans who’ve piled on jokes, Lauzon is not taking him seriously.

On the eve of his UFC return, which airs live as part of a Spike TV “UFC Prelims” special from Boston’s TD Garden, fans still ask with a hint of worry whether he’s on target to make the 156-pound limit for his fight. Ruediger sent a small shockwave through Twitter when he announced he weighed 178 pounds with five days until the fight. (In actuality, he weighed 163 pounds.) He can poke fun at his reputation, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t annoyed sometimes.

“Four years hasn’t elapsed since the show, and apparently I’m still having issues with my weight,” Ruediger said. “It was a single issue on a TV show, but that’s the deciding factor.”

Ruediger and Lauzon clashed when they were housemates on “The Ultimate Fighter 5.” Ruediger famously failed to make weight for a fight with Corey Hill and was asked to leave the Spike TV reality show.

“I think the TV show is just a single moment, and I made my mistake,” Ruediger said. “I made my error – I recognize that. It wasn’t the fighter that I was prior to the show, and it certainly isn’t the one that I am after.”

Lauzon went on to become a successful fighter in the UFC’s lightweight division while Ruediger toiled on the regional circuit. They didn’t keep in touch.

But after some initial stumbles, “Godzilla” got his career back on track in a big way. He won his next six fights with five consecutive submissions by guillotine or rear-naked chokes. Four of them ended in the first round. Most recently, he won the Tachi Palace Fights lightweight belt against then-undefeated Lenny Lovato with a first-round TKO.

It’s for that reason that he didn’t hesitate to take the fight with Lauzon – despite having less than a month’s time to prepare. (Lauzon’s original opponent, British beanpole Terry Etim, was injured and forced to withdraw earlier this month.)

“I was in title shape,” Ruediger said. “I had three weeks off because of an injury, but I jumped in the gym and tested everything out, and I felt great. I’m going to smash him.”

Lauzon, who’s coming off a decision loss to Sam Stout at UFC 108 following a yearlong layoff due to ACL surgery, this week told MMAjunkie.com that the matchup is more favorable to him. He also scoffs at the idea that Ruediger has progressed as much as he says he has. Lauzon, whoever, did admit that he has seen only one of his foe’s fights since the end of the reality show.

“Joe can believe whatever he wants,” Ruediger said. “Again, we’re dealing with a time span that’s over three years ago. I think Joe’s a very good opponent. I don’t take him lightly, but I certainly don’t think he’s better than me.

“He’s had more chances to be in the spotlight, of course. He’s been in the UFC, and I’ve been fighting in some of the lower promotions. But I’ve been fighting tough dudes.”

On Saturday, Ruediger gets a chance to prove he’s not the guy as seen on TV. And you have to admit: If Ruediger wins, it could be a revenge scenario worthy of “Lardass” from “Stand by Me.”

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